I use KiCAD for schematic and layout. A typical trace would be 0.4mm. The smallest tracers I go is 0.3mm. Anything thinner i the results vary alot. As for SMD's SOT23-6 and SOIC is a comfortable packages to work with. For CAM I use flatcam <http://flatcam.org/>, with is quite messy at first, but has alot of opportunities to tweak settings. It also has a very good tool for making aliment holes when doing sided boards. It can also "mill-drill" with is convenient.
I use Autoleveller <http://www.autoleveller.co.uk/> after the gcode has been generated by flatcam. Even though i use generous amounts of double sided tape as work holding , and leveled spoilplate I still get noticeable better results when I level the board first. For engraving bits i really like theese : https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-HM-Engraver-3-175-40-CNC-Engraving-Bits-PCBs-PCB-Endmill-VHM/112827385707?hash=item1a4509476b:g:m0IAAOSwa~BYXBl2 They give good results for tents to stay sharp for many more boards than the really cheap chineese ones. Although I have had some good success with thoes cheap ones aswell, just not as frequent =). /Peter 2018-04-08 8:20 GMT+02:00 Marcus Bowman <marcus.bow...@visible.eclipse.co.uk >: > > On 8 Apr 2018, at 06:05, Chris Albertson wrote: > > > > Is there a Linux based tool chain? The part I don't see is how to > convert > > Gerber files to g-code files. > > The video mentions CopperCAM, but the CopperCAM site says it takes in some > Gerber files, but doesn't give enough details of the "output files". > > > > > Then what tools work best? I think three are needed tiny end mill to > route > > copper, > > Engraving tools are cheap and work quite well on pcb material. > > And dust extraction is a must. The guy in the video really needs to think > about abrasive particles entering his airways. > > > > Tiny spiral mill for cutting the PCB all the way through and a few > > micro side drill bits for the through holes. > > > > BTW it seems like the guy in the video could have saved a lot of time by > > using a (fake) ground plane that flooded all the empty space. No need to > > mill all that copper away. > > +1 to that, unless the circuit demands low inter-layer capacitance. > > Marcus > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > ------------------ > Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most > engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > _______________________________________________ > Emc-users mailing list > Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
